Second chances are rare, but the Warren Central Vikings get one tonight when they host Grenada in a must-win Region 2-6A game at Viking Stadium.

The Vikings (5-5, 3-3) missed a golden chance to clinch their first playoff berth since 2005, when they lost to the archrival Vicksburg Gators 13-7 in double overtime on a muddy Viking Stadium field last week. Grenada (5-5, 3-3) found overtime success Monday night, getting a 22-yard field goal from Garrett Holland to beat Murrah 17-14 and create a three-way tie for third place in the region with Northwest Rankin.

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WC hosts Grenada

Warren Central can still grab the No. 3 slot out of the eight-team Region 2-6A if they beat the Chargers. WC would finish 4-3 in the region and owns a tiebreaker over Northwest Rankin because of its 27-26 overtime win. If the Vikings lose, Murrah would have to upset Northwest Rankin tonight in order for Warren Central to slip in the back door with a No. 4 seed and a trip to South Panola.

WC coach Curtis Brewer informed his team of the scenarios.

“No game is more      

 important than Grenada. If we win, we make the playoffs. We have to play. Pick yourselves up and let’s be prepared and let’s execute,” Brewer said.

One advantage the Vikings will have is that Grenada has little turnaround time to prepare, having just played a hard game Monday night against Murrah. The visiting Mustangs led 7-0 at the half, but Grenada came back behind quarterback Channing Martin’s pair of touchdown passes to force overtime.

“The quarterback is good. He moves his feet well,” Brewer said. “They have a very talented team and are very skilled. Their offense is pretty wide open out of the spread set. They have three really good receivers in No. 21 (Ladarius Redditt) and No. 4 (Cedrick Tillman) and No. 16 (Rafiel Johnson).”

Martin has completed 99-of-191 passes for 1,303 yards and 11 touchdowns. Johnson is the top target with 22 receptions for 407 yards and four scores. Redditt has 23 catches for 295 yards and Tillman had a 45-yard TD pass to help force overtime against Murrah.

The Charger defense has made a lot strides this season after the team went 0-11 last year and changed coaches. Kelly Causey, the former coach at Pass Christian, was brought in to run the defense. The Chargers have forced 23 turnovers, including 17 fumbles.

Linebacker Marquiz Edget forced a fumble in overtime against Murrah to set up Holland’s winning field goal. He leads the Chargers with 117 tackles.

Warren Central was in a similar situation last week against Vicksburg. They stopped the Gators on its first overtime possession and then had a field goal chance to win it, but kicker Devon Bell pushed the kick wide.

Brewer was quick to pick Bell up.

“His kick didn’t lose the game. There were so many other plays in that game where we could’ve won it,” Brewer said.

The Vikings will get a lift this week with the return of starting defensive end JaRalle Pedyfoot, who ranks third on the team in tackles with 56.

“He was out last week in the hospital getting a cyst removed. We missed him both on defense and as a power back in our I-formation,” Brewer said.

With expected drier conditions, the Vikings could be able to balance out their offense behind quarterback Beau Wallace. Over the last three weeks, the Vikings have had little passing offense. Wallace has hit on 63-of-127 passes for 670 yards.

Tim Jones leads the offense with 1,324 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com